Best Survival Games on Steam

Steam offers a diverse selection of survival games that challenge players to thrive in harsh environments and manage limited resources. These titles often blend elements of crafting, exploration, and combat to create engaging gameplay loops. From underwater alien worlds to zombie infested cities, the genre provides a wide range of settings for solo or cooperative play. Success in these games typically depends on strategic planning and the ability to adapt to unpredictable threats. This list highlights some of the most acclaimed survival experiences available on the platform.

‘The Forest’ (2018)

Players survive a plane crash only to find themselves on a peninsula filled with cannibalistic mutants. The game emphasizes crafting and building to establish a secure base against night attacks. Exploring the deep cave systems reveals a dark narrative about the protagonist and his missing son. Managing hunger and thirst while gathering wood or stone is essential for long term survival. This title is known for blending horror elements with standard survival mechanics.

‘Sons of the Forest’ (2024)

As a sequel to a popular survival title, this game sends players to a remote island to find a missing billionaire. It introduces improved building systems and more intelligent artificial intelligence for both companions and enemies. The changing seasons impact gameplay by forcing players to stockpile food and adapt to freezing temperatures. Players can explore a massive map filled with hidden bunkers and dangerous secrets. Cooperative play allows for a shared experience in this highly detailed environment.

‘Subnautica’ (2018)

Players explore an alien ocean world after their spaceship crashes on a remote planet. The game focuses on resource gathering to build underwater bases and advanced submarines. Surviving requires monitoring oxygen levels while navigating bioluminescent reefs and deep sea trenches. Dangerous marine predators inhabit the darker regions of the map where rare materials are found. The narrative is uncovered through data pads and radio transmissions found throughout the environment.

‘Subnautica: Below Zero’ (2021)

This follow up to the original underwater adventure takes place in a frozen region of the same planet. Players must manage their body temperature in addition to oxygen and hunger while exploring icy biomes. The game introduces new vehicles like the Seatruck and the Snowfox to aid in exploration. A central mystery involving an alien intelligence and a missing sister drives the plot forward. The environment features unique creatures that range from helpful sea monkeys to giant leviathans.

‘Valheim’ (2021)

This Viking themed survival game tasks players with proving their worth to Odin in a procedurally generated purgatory. Players start with nothing and must craft tools, build halls, and sail across vast oceans. Combat is a significant focus as players hunt for materials to summon and defeat powerful ancient bosses. The building system allows for structural integrity and complex architectural designs. Progression is tied to defeating world bosses which unlocks new tiers of technology and resources.

‘Rust’ (2018)

In this multiplayer focused title, players must survive against hunger, thirst, and other hostile humans. The game is famous for its high stakes environment where players can lose everything in a single raid. Base building and raiding are the core components of the experience on most servers. Players can form clans to protect their territory or wage war against rival groups. Regular updates keep the gameplay fresh with new items and mechanical changes.

‘Project Zomboid’ (2013)

This isometric survival game focuses on a realistic depiction of a zombie apocalypse in Kentucky. Players must scavenge for food and medicine while dealing with depression and fatigue. The deep simulation tracks every aspect of a character from their weight to their psychological state. A single bite can lead to death, making every encounter with the undead extremely tense. The game is intended to tell the story of how the player eventually dies.

‘7 Days to Die’ (2024)

This title combines first person shooting with tower defense and survival elements in a post apocalyptic world. Every seven days, a massive horde of zombies attacks the player to test their fortifications. Players must spend the intervening time gathering resources and upgrading their home base. The fully destructible environment allows for creative solutions to resource gathering and defense. Character progression includes a detailed skill tree that allows for various playstyles and specializations.

‘Don’t Starve’ (2013)

With its unique hand drawn art style, this game follows a scientist trapped in a dark and mysterious world. Players must gather resources to build machines and maintain their sanity during the long nights. Science and magic are both used to survive against bizarre creatures and harsh seasonal changes. Failure is a constant threat as the world becomes increasingly hostile over time. The game focuses on discovery and experimentation to figure out the best survival strategies.

‘Don’t Starve Together’ (2016)

This standalone multiplayer expansion allows players to tackle the challenges of the original game with friends. It includes exclusive content such as new bosses and unique biomes designed for cooperative play. Cooperation is necessary to manage large scale farms and defend against massive seasonal giants. Players can choose from a cast of characters with distinct abilities and weaknesses. Constant updates have expanded the lore and added complex endgame challenges.

‘Raft’ (2022)

Players start on a small wooden plank in the middle of a vast ocean with only a plastic hook. The goal is to catch floating debris to expand the raft into a floating fortress. Exploration leads to various islands and derelict ships where players find new blueprints and resources. A persistent shark follows the raft and regularly attacks the structure to keep players on their toes. Cooperative play makes managing the sail and gathering food much more efficient.

‘Stranded Deep’ (2022)

Following a plane crash in the Pacific Ocean, players find themselves stranded on a series of small tropical islands. Survival requires scavenging for materials to build a raft and explore the surrounding waters. Players must hunt for food and water while avoiding dangerous marine life like great white sharks. The game features a dynamic weather system and a day and night cycle that affects gameplay. Crafting tools and structures is the key to eventually escaping the archipelago.

‘Terraria’ (2011)

This two dimensional sandbox game blends survival with massive amounts of exploration and combat. Players dig deep into the earth to find rare minerals and craft powerful weapons or armor. The world is filled with unique biomes and hundreds of different enemy types. Defeating specific bosses triggers world changes that introduce harder challenges and better loot. While crafting is essential, the game places a heavy emphasis on boss battles and gear progression.

‘No Man’s Sky’ (2016)

In this procedurally generated universe, players can travel between billions of unique planets. Survival involves managing life support and hazard protection in a variety of extreme alien atmospheres. Players gather resources to upgrade their starships, multi tools, and planetary bases. The game offers a mix of space combat, trading, and discovery across an infinite galaxy. Numerous free updates have added features like base building, multiplayer, and complex narrative missions.

‘V Rising’ (2024)

Players take on the role of a weakened vampire awakening after centuries of slumber. Survival requires hunting for blood to regain strength while avoiding the lethal rays of the sun. Building a massive gothic castle serves as a base of operations and a place to refine resources. Players can dominate humans to serve as loyal thralls and defend their territory. The game features a large open world with various bosses that unlock new magical abilities.

‘Enshrouded’ (2024)

This action role playing survival game is set in a world consumed by a corrupting fog. Players must build elaborate bases and craft gear to survive the dangerous creatures living within the mist. The voxel based world allows for total destruction and creative building possibilities. Exploration is encouraged to find ancient ruins and recover powerful artifacts. Cooperative play supports large groups working together to reclaim the kingdom from the Shroud.

‘Palworld’ (2024)

In this expansive open world game, players capture and train creatures known as Pals to assist with survival. These creatures can be used for combat, farming, or working in automated factories. Players must manage their own health and hunger while also caring for their collection of Pals. The game blends traditional survival crafting with monster collection mechanics. Base building is a core feature that allows players to create complex industrial sites.

‘Scum’ (2018)

This title focuses on a highly detailed simulation of human survival in a prison riot scenario. It tracks complex metabolic statistics including vitamin levels, muscle mass, and even tooth health. Players must navigate a large island while battling other inmates and robotic guardians. The game features deep customization for skills and character attributes. Survival requires a balance of tactical combat and meticulous resource management.

‘This War of Mine’ (2014)

Unlike most survival games, this title focuses on a group of civilians trying to survive in a besieged city. Players must make difficult moral choices to ensure the survival of their group during a food and medicine shortage. During the day, snipers prevent players from leaving their shelter, so tasks are limited to maintenance and crafting. At night, players scavenge the city for life saving supplies in various dangerous locations. The game provides a somber and realistic look at the human cost of armed conflict.

‘Kenshi’ (2018)

This open world sandbox game features a seamless world where players can be whoever they want. Survival is difficult in a world filled with cannibals, slavers, and hostile wildlife. There is no central hero, and players can lead a single character or a massive faction. The game uses a squad based system that allows for base building and large scale warfare. Characters grow stronger by performing actions, meaning even failure can lead to improved skills.

‘Grounded’ (2022)

Players are shrunk to the size of an ant and must survive in a suburban backyard. The environment is filled with giant insects that can be either harmless or extremely dangerous. Resource gathering involves using everyday items like grass blades and soda cans to craft armor and tools. A mysterious laboratory network provides a story path to help players return to their original size. Cooperative play allows friends to build massive bases in the grass or trees together.

‘Pacific Drive’ (2024)

This survival game focuses on a station wagon as the primary means of survival in a supernatural zone. Players must maintain and upgrade their vehicle to withstand anomalies and hazardous weather conditions. Each excursion into the zone provides resources needed to repair the car and improve its capabilities. The garage serves as a safe hub for planning the next dangerous trip into the Olympic Exclusion Zone. Managing fuel and tires is just as important as finding food for the driver.

‘Abiotic Factor’ (2024)

Set in an underground research facility, players must survive a catastrophic containment failure. This title blends survival mechanics with a unique science fiction setting inspired by office environments. Players use scientific equipment and office supplies to craft weapons and fortifications. Exploring the facility reveals various supernatural threats and strange dimensions. Teamwork is encouraged as players work together to escape the sprawling laboratory complex.

‘Sunkenland’ (2023)

In this water themed survival game, most of the world is submerged under the ocean. Players must dive into sunken cities to scavenge for resources and ancient technology. Building a base on the water or on small islands provides protection from hostile sea factions. Combat involves using firearms and melee weapons to defend territory during raids. Vehicles like jet skis and helicopters aid in exploring the vast oceanic map.

‘State of Decay 2’ (2020)

Players lead a community of survivors in a world overrun by the undead. Each character has unique traits and skills that affect how the group functions and survives. Base building involves managing facilities like infirmaries, gardens, and workshops to provide for the community. Missions often require players to venture out into the world to find resources or help other enclaves. Permadeath means that losing a favorite character can have a significant impact on the group.

‘Astroneer’ (2019)

This space themed survival game emphasizes exploration and base building on various planets. Players use a terrain tool to reshape the environment and gather hidden minerals. Survival depends on maintaining a constant supply of oxygen through a network of tethers. The game features a colorful art style and a focus on peaceful cooperation rather than combat. Building complex automated systems allows for efficient resource processing and space travel.

‘Satisfactory’ (2024)

While primarily a factory building game, this title includes survival elements in an alien wilderness. Players must explore the planet to find resource nodes while defending themselves against hostile fauna. Building massive automated factories is the primary goal to complete various orbital elevator phases. The game features a first person perspective that makes the scale of the machinery feel immense. Strategic planning is required to optimize production lines and manage power consumption.

‘Soulmask’ (2024)

This survival title focuses on a protagonist who finds a powerful mask that grants unique abilities. Players must explore a vast world, build bases, and recruit followers to grow their tribe. The game features a complex combat system and a focus on uncovering ancient secrets. Managing resources and defending against rival tribes are central to the experience. The mask mechanic allows players to take control of different characters and utilize their specific skills.

‘Frostpunk’ (2018)

In a frozen world, players act as the leader of the last city on Earth. Survival is a constant struggle against extreme cold that requires the careful management of a massive heat generator. Players must pass laws to govern the citizens and make difficult choices regarding child labor or healthcare. Resource gathering is focused on coal, wood, and food to keep the population from freezing or starving. The game provides a tense experience where the survival of the many often requires the sacrifice of the few.

‘Unturned’ (2017)

This free to play survival game features a blocky art style and a focus on zombie survival. Players must scavenge for supplies and build bases to protect themselves from the undead and other players. The game includes various maps set in different parts of the world with unique vehicles and weapons. Skill trees allow players to specialize in different survival roles like farming or combat. It supports both solo play and large scale multiplayer servers.

‘Dying Light’ (2015)

Combining parkour with zombie survival, this game features a dynamic day and night cycle. During the day, players explore a city to find supplies and help survivors with various tasks. At night, the infected become much more aggressive and dangerous predators emerge to hunt the player. The fluid movement system allows for creative ways to navigate the urban environment and avoid combat. Crafting unique melee weapons is essential for fighting back against the undead hordes.

‘Medieval Dynasty’ (2021)

Players take on the role of a young man fleeing war who wants to build a new life in a peaceful valley. The game blends survival with town management and role playing elements. Survival involves hunting, farming, and building a home while managing the needs of a growing family. Eventually, players can invite other villagers to join them and expand their small house into a thriving village. Passing down the legacy to an heir ensures the survival of the dynasty across generations.

Tell us which of these survival games is your favorite in the comments.